Only two kinds of people can attain self-knowledge: those who are not encumbered at all with learning, that is to say, whose minds are not over-crowded with thoughts borrowed from others; and those who, after studying all the scriptures and sciences, have come to realize that they know nothing.

— Ramakrishna

That knowledge which purifies the mind and heart alone is true Knowledge, all else is only a negation of Knowledge.

— Ramakrishna

The physicians of one class feel the patients and go away, merely prescribing medicine. As they leave the room they simply ask the patient to take the medicine. They are the poorest class of physicians.

— Ramakrishna

The world is indeed a mixture of truth and make-believe. Discard the make-believe and take the truth.

— Ramakrishna

Through selfless work, love of God grows in the heart. Then through his grace one realize him in course of time. God can be seen. One can talk to him as I am talking to you.

— Ramakrishna

To work without attachment is to work without the expectation of reward or fear of any punishment in this world or the next. Work so done is a means to the end, and God is the end.

— Ramakrishna

Travel in all the four quarters of the earth, yet you will find nothing anywhere. Whatever there is, is only here.

— Ramakrishna

Unless one always speaks the truth, one cannot find God Who is the soul of truth.

— Ramakrishna

What Brahman is cannot be described. All things in the world — the Vedas, the Purana's, the Tantra's, the six systems of philosophy — have been defiled, like food that has been touched by the tongue, for they have been read or uttered by the tongue. Only one thing has not been defiled in this way, and that is Brahman. No one has ever been able to say what Brahman is.

— Ramakrishna

When one has love for God, one doesn't feel any physical attraction to wife, children, relatives and friends. One retains only compassion for them.

— Ramakrishna